Event

Labour’s constitutional agenda in office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025 (Day 1)

This event hosted by UK think tank the Constitution Unit brings together senior speakers to discuss Labour’s constitutional agenda in office.

This summer will mark a year since Labour’s landslide victory at the 2024 general election. The party’s manifesto contained a number of pledges for reforming the UK’s constitution and political institutions. So how have those pledges fared since Labour took office? Which promises have been delivered? What unexpected changes have been introduced? And what further reforms will – or should – be on the government’s agenda? 

This online conference will take stock of constitutional developments in the last year, and look ahead, with a range of senior speakers including parliamentarians, academics, and commentators. 

Day 1 – Wednesday 18 June 

10am – 11am: Opening keynote from Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP – Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for the constitution and EU relations.

Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit (Chair)

In this opening keynote address, Nick Thomas-Symonds will summarise the government’s approach to the constitution, and priorities for constitutional reform. What has been achieved so far, and what are the most important priorities for the future? Which key principles underpin the government’s plans? 

1pm – 2:15pm: Standards in public life 

The Labour Party put standards and ethics at the heart of its attacks on the previous Conservative government, promising to bring in a ‘politics of service’. Has the party’s conduct in office lived up to this rhetoric? How has it changed the regulation of standards in government and parliament? What further changes are needed in this area, and what is the best means to ensure that these are delivered?  

Speakers

Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP – Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life 

Phil Brickell MP – Labour MP for Bolton West 

Professor Gillian Peele – member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Emeritus Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Oxford 

Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit (Chair)